FORGET Paris or Amsterdam, fun-lovers can now saddle up to take in the summer sights of Basildon by bike.

The town is following in the tyre tracks of Cambridge, Oxford and many continental cities by launching its own summer bike hire scheme.

It will see 20 bicycles being hired out from Gloucester Park Swimming Pool for a cost of £2 an hour.

The project, run by the council in partnership with Eastgate shopping centre, has been introduced to encourage people to exercise more.

It is also hoped the project will reduce reliance on cars around Basildon.

The scheme was launched yesterday to coincide with National Bike Week.

Kevin Blake, the council’s cabinet member for leisure and the arts, said: “We are grateful to Eastgate shopping centre and our other partners who have made this project possible.

“The scheme is aimed at encouraging families, young people and children to stay healthy.”

Hans Wusterfeld, manager of the shopping centre, said: “For a number of years we have been promoting cycling as the greenest form of travel and an enjoyable recreational pursuit.

“We are delighted to join forces with the council for this exciting initiative.”

Earlier this year, Basildon Council and NHS South West Essex launched a new healthy living programme called “Get Out There! Basildon”, offering cut-price leisure activities.

The new bike hire scheme, which will run from July 1 until the end of September, will include special family sessions around mapped cycle routes taking in picturesque parks such as Lake Meadows, Billericay.